Chapter 56: Sikong Jing's Conditions

At this moment, Sikong Jing understood completely.

Even if Luo Ning spoke with the most flowery rhetoric, the Leiying Trading Firm would not believe that Lei Shuang had been killed. Or rather, even if they did believe it, they would find an excuse to deliver a severe deterrent and retaliation against the Luoshui Jade Firm.

That was why Luo Ning had sought him out, hoping he would fight on behalf of the Luoshui Jade Firm.

Thinking of this, Sikong Jing asked, "What if I refuse?"

As he spoke, Sikong Jing stared coldly at Luo Ning, fearing that she might push him forward to become an enemy of the Leiying Trading Firm.

He was certainly not afraid of the Leiying Trading Firm, but he had a family now and loathed trouble.

If Luo Ning truly tried to push him into it, Sikong Jing wouldn't mind taking her down right then and there before negotiating with the Leiying Trading Firm himself.

The faint killing intent radiating from Sikong Jing caused the private room in the Zuixian Pavilion to turn icy instantly.

Luo Ning's heart momentarily panicked, but she quickly straightened her expression and said, "Rest assured, Young Master Sikong. If you refuse, our Luoshui Jade Firm will fight on its own. We will never drag you into this."

Hearing this, Sikong Jing withdrew his killing intent. He picked up the wine poured by the maid and said slowly, "I have conditions."

At these words, Luo Ning breathed a secret sigh of relief. "Please, speak."

"I want a Yuanzhen Pill," Sikong Jing said, looking at Luo Ning again.

The latter's eyes widened instinctively, and she couldn't help but say, "A high-grade Profound-rank Yuanzhen Pill?"

Sikong Jing nodded heavily.

In the Great Shang Empire, medicinal pills, weapons, and other items were also divided into four grades: Heaven, Earth, Profound, and Yellow. The Yuanzhen Pill was indeed a high-grade Profound-rank pill, extremely rare and expensive within the Yunzhou region.

"High-grade Profound-rank? Why don't you just go rob us instead?" Luo Ning's maid couldn't help but cry out, her previous polite attitude completely gone.

Sikong Jing ignored the maid and spoke again, "I have a second condition."

This sentence nearly sent the maid into a rage; asking for a high-grade Profound-rank pill was already pushing his luck to the limit.

Luo Ning's lips twitched, and she asked with a grim expression, "What else?"

"After winning the duel, I want you to give me people."

"Two hundred experts around the third level of the Dark Realm. I need to hunt another beast, likely deep within the Ruyun Mountains."

As soon as he finished speaking, the entire private room fell silent.

Suddenly, the maid cried out again, "I say, you criminal, stop being so greedy!"

Su Shan, who was at the fifth level of the Dark Realm, could already be considered a minor prodigy of Yunye City. The Luoshui Jade Firm was only a mid-tier trading firm in Yunzhou; providing two hundred experts at the third level of the Dark Realm wasn't impossible, but they feared the senseless loss.

Besides, that was deep within the Ruyun Mountains; it wasn't a place one could simply enter at will.

"Xiaohuan, shut up." Luo Ning snapped back to her senses. After scolding her maid, she looked at Sikong Jing and said, "Young Master Sikong, your conditions are a bit too large. I need to consider them."

Sikong Jing nodded, drained the wine in his hand, and said, "Farewell."

He stood up and left without further nonsense.

As he reached the door, Luo Ning couldn't help but stand up and call out to him, "Young Master Sikong, I wonder how much confidence you have in this duel?"

Without looking back, the corners of Sikong Jing's mouth curled slightly. "One hundred percent."

The Qianyue Leopard was indeed not a difficult task for him.

Moreover, Sikong Jing was currently the Lord of Ten Thousand Beasts. Although he hadn't tested it yet, he would certainly possess absolute suppression over demonic beasts.

When he proposed his terms, he was certain Luo Ning would agree.

One could tell from Lei Shuang's attitude toward Luo Ning that the Leiying Trading Firm was domineering. This time, they would definitely make the Luoshui Jade Firm bleed heavily, and there was even a possibility they might wipe the firm out entirely.

Only by winning the duel could the Luoshui Jade Firm continue to contend with the Leiying Trading Firm.

Sure enough, Luo Ning's expression shifted wildly before she finally gritted her teeth and said, "Fine, I agree."

Sikong Jing turned around and asked, "When do we depart?"

"Tomorrow morning," Luo Ning replied.

"Fine. However, as a criminal, I cannot leave the city. You will have to handle that."

Sikong Jing spoke nonchalantly, then bid Luo Ning farewell and left the Zuixian Pavilion.

The high-grade Profound-rank Yuanzhen Pill was, of course, intended for Su Yuexi.

As he had said before, even if he could ensure Su Yuexi's victory in the selection seven days from now, he did not want his wife to suffer even the slightest harm.

The Yuanzhen Pill could enhance Su Yuexi's combat strength, bringing her to at least the fourth or fifth level of the Dark Realm.

As for the second condition—hunting the beast in the depths of the Ruyun Mountains—that was what Sikong Jing was preparing for his father-in-law.

The inner core of that beast could suppress the rampaging Earth-rank True Qi within Su Zhenglong's body.

He hadn't just been focused on his own cultivation these past few days; he had also been searching for ways to treat Su Zhenglong's injuries. He had learned about the beast in the depths of the Ruyun Mountains from Doctor Sun.

Both of his conditions were for the sake of his family.

As Sikong Jing departed, the voice of the maid, Xiaohuan, drifted from the private room in the Zuixian Pavilion.

"Eldest Miss, that criminal is too arrogant. Why did you agree to him?"

Xiaohuan was fuming; she had wanted to pin everything regarding Lei Shuang on Sikong Jing from the very beginning.

"Because we cannot afford to lose," Luo Ning replied, her expression wavering.

After leaving the Zuixian Pavilion, Sikong Jing did not return to the Su residence immediately. Instead, he went to the Tianwu Pavilion to ask Lu Zhao to send people to protect Su Yuexi's family while he was away from Yunye City.

The payment was a piece of Green Jade paper inscribed with a low-grade Profound-rank martial technique.

Lu Zhao did not hesitate and agreed immediately.

Upon returning to the Su residence, Su Yuexi and the others quickly asked about the Luoshui Jade Firm's request for help. Sikong Jing smiled and said, "The Luoshui Jade Firm wants me to leave the city to participate in a duel to hunt the Qianyue Leopard in the Ruyun Mountains."

At these words, Mei Xiaofang's eyes widened. "Are you crazy? The Qianyue Leopard is a peak Dark Realm beast!"

Su Zhenglong also looked serious, staring intently at Sikong Jing.

The Qianyue Leopard was very famous in Yunzhou. Despite being only at the peak of the Dark Realm, its speed could outstrip ordinary Human-rank beasts.

Sikong Jing paused, then said after a moment of hesitation, "I'm just going to join the fray. The Luoshui Jade Firm is short on manpower, and they will give me a good reward afterward. I can gain experience and earn money at the same time; it's quite a good deal."

He knew that if he told the truth, his parents-in-law and Su Yuexi would certainly worry, so he could only tell a well-intentioned lie.

At this, Mei Xiaofang realized the truth. So, he was just going to help them recruit more people.

"In that case, Luo Ning must have invited many people at the Zuixian Pavilion, right? It wasn't just a private invitation to you?"

Sikong Jing's lips twitched. As expected, one lie required more lies to cover it up. He could only nod helplessly.

Exhaling a long breath, Mei Xiaofang said, "Then you must be careful. Don't leave Yuexi a widow."

Such words left Su Zhenglong and Su Yuexi speechless. Couldn't Mother say something more pleasant?

Late at night, Sikong Jing stayed in the room with Su Yuexi, neither of them sleeping.

Since this departure would last at least several days, he not only explained cultivation methods to Su Yuexi but also meticulously taught her the Cloud Dance Ethereal Steps and the Floating Moon Sword Technique.

Throughout the night, the sound of rushing wind and the ringing of swords echoed from Su Yuexi's room.

"Brother Jing, you must come back safely."

At dawn, as Su Yuexi saw Sikong Jing off, her small face was still filled with reluctance and worry.